Southwest neighborhood is fed up. An increase in thefts has neighbors setting up cameras, installing alarms and signs to ward off criminals.
"I could see the guy put it on himself, put it on his bike and he rode away. On his way out he was checking all the different vehicles," said Joe Salinas, whose mom was one of the most recent victims of theft in The Oaks community.
"When she showed me her console, it had been opened up."
On Friday, she was over at Salinas' for dinner.
And when she got into her car to go home - she noticed it had been ransacked.
"Some other personal items had been taken and she had a portable oxygen tank and they also took that."
But this isn't the first time it's happened in that neighborhood.
"Countless neighbors have had their vehicles broken into, neighbor next door had his front door kicked in, my personal vehicles have been ransacked," said Salinas.
He said this week they've already heard about three other break-ins and thefts from neighbors.
"Everyone has just, you know, they're tired of it."
Bakersfield Police said they, too, have noticed an increase in burglaries in and around the area east of Gosford Road, between Ming Avenue and White Lane.
They say they've made 9 arrests for burglary, auto theft and receiving stolen property.
To try to deter thieves, Salinas has set up numerous surveillance cameras around his home.
Today, he posted "warning signs" around the block, "they're pretty visible. and that's what we wanted."
So now, Salinas is calling on the community to be proactive and stay alert.
"We just have to pay attention to our surroundings," he said, "got to keep the homes lit up at night, keep the lights on. If someone is gone for a period of time, let your neighbors know."
If you see something suspicious in your neighborhood, call police.
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